Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Phil Giebler Racing's Daughters 9th, 18th In Junior Features At Rotax Pan American Challenge

Phil Giebler Racing's Daughters 9th, 18th In Junior Features At Rotax Pan American Challenge
Posted by: newsla on May 26, 2011 - 11:14 AM

Phil Giebler Racing’s Mason Daughters finished ninth Sunday and 18th Saturday in the Rotax Junior feature races at the Rotax Pan American Challenge at Michiana Raceway Park.

“We had some good runs and showed a lot of potential,” Giebler said. “The weather came into play a couple times that did not help us out, but it was a solid weekend considering the competition, difficulty of the track and conditions.”

The event is a qualifying round for the Rotax Challenge Grand Finals in the United Arab Emirates from Nov. 23-26 and attracted an international field of karters from throughout the Americas.

Daughters, of Polo, Mo., was running fifth and just behind the leaders halfway into Saturday’s feature when it started raining and the race was red flagged.

“When the red flag came out to give the drivers a chance to switch to rain tires, we gambled and stayed on rain tires,” Giebler said. “We thought it was going to rain more. The rain did not come and we weren't lucky as most drivers stayed on dry tires.

“Sunday, we had a very good chance to get into the top five, but Mason was pushed wide on the first lap and fell back. He recovered well to make it back to ninth.”

Daughters, a Level 5 Motorsports development team driver who is sponsored by Boardwalk Ferrari and VIP Custom Cars, qualified his PGR-prepared FA Kart in 12th position Saturday and 13th Sunday. He was sixth in the pre-final race Saturday and 11th Sunday. Daughters used Rotax power and Mojo Tires

“We are working on qualifying pace, but looking very good in the race conditions,” Giebler said. “He is learning a lot and I am very happy with the progress he’s made with less than year experience.”

Phil Giebler Racing, owned by the 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, is based in Orange, Calif., and competes in karting events coast-to-coast in the USA. In addition to preparing the karts, Giebler, a resident of Huntington Beach, Calif., provides driver coaching.

PaddockTalk Perspective

Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach 2011

American-Le-Mans-at-Long-Beach-2011_20110415_0013.jpg

LONG BEACH, CA - APR 15: America Le Mans Driver Level 5 Motorsports Team car #55 tails PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports car #52 during practice run. Photo by Eduardo E. Silva

Tucker Leaves Laguna Seca With Another Podium

24th May 2011

Scott Tucker, the most successful driver in Ferrari Challenge Series history, added to his list of accomplishments with a podium finish at historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the second event weekend of the 2011 season. This follows up a victory in the season opener at Infineon Raceway on April 30.

The runner-up finish in Saturday’s race was the highlight of the weekend for Tucker and his Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports team on this challenging road course. The Ferrari Challenge Series is only two events into the season, which marks the debut of the new Ferrari 458 Challenge, the make that will replace the Ferrari F430 as the car of choice for the single-marque series. The new and relatively untested car continues to be a work in progress for Level 5.

“We really haven’t had a lot of time with the 458,” Tucker said. “We’ve had such a hectic schedule that we have not been able to test the car the way we would like. But, still, we have a win and a podium so we feel we’ll be able to continue to develop this new car.”

After battling his way into second place, Tucker ran out of laps and was unable to catch Enzo Potolicchio, who scored his second win of the season.

Sunday's race also brought intense action to the track as a strong field of competitors battled each other and the famous 2.234-mile, 11-turn road course. Tucker finished fifth.

"We drove the best car we had today," Tucker said Sunday. "Unfortunately, some of the guys had a little more testing time and they were a little bit stronger. But, we're going to see what we can do about that."

Adding to the team’s challenges is the fact that Tucker has been competing in the secondary car while the primary car is awaiting approval from series officials.

Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports are in the middle of preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most prestigious endurance race. The event is the third stop on the schedule for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup where Level 5 is competing in the LMP2 class in a Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored, Honda-powered Lola. The international competition is in addition to the American Le Mans Series, where the team also races on a full-time basis.

“We have a full plate, that is for sure,” Tucker said. “But, we have a very talented and dedicated team. We race to win every time out and we are not going to shy away from the hard work it takes to get there.”

The 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place June 11-12, 2011. Complete coverage will be provided by Radio Le Mans at Radiolemans.com.

Scott Tucker Laguna Seca Weekend Summary Motorsport.com

Motorsport.com

The event is the third stop on the schedule for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup where Level 5 is competing in the LMP2 class in a Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored, Honda-powered Lola. The international competition is in addition to the American Le Mans ...MacNeil wins Ferrari Race Days at Mazda Raceway Laguna SecaMonterey County Herald2011 Le Mans: Tucker's World Tour Heads To Laguna SecaPaddockTalkall 27 news articles »...

Potolicchio wins Ferrari Challenge at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

By DAVID COFFIN

Herald Correspondent

Posted: 05/23/2011 9:18 AM

Enzo Potolicchio of Caracas, Venezuela and the Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale team continued his early-season dominance of the Ferrari Challenge of North America with a 2.702-second victory over Scott Tucker of Leawood, Kansas and Boardwalk Ferrari in the opening race of the Ferrari Racing Days at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Saturday.

Potolicchio won from the pole in Mazda Raceway's 2011 season debut to give him two straight wins and a second heading into today's second race at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course, which will also be the fourth race of the 12-race, six-event Ferrari North America Challenge season.

"It wasn't me, the team was amazing," said Potolicchio. Well, he did have something to do with it since he was behind the wheel of the F458 in its first season as the evolution of the 430.

"We are coming back tomorrow (2 p.m. today) and hope to get another win — but these guys are tough (referring to the other racers)," Potolicchio added. "It's been an amazing weekend."

He also noted that (Michael) "Miller with Skip Barber (Racing School) gave me some tips." This was his first time racing at Mazda Raceway and the Barber people said Enzo took the two-day advanced racing school prior to this weekend with Miller, who has been an instructor for 15+ years.

Harry Cheung of San Francisco and Ferrari of Silicon Valley finished third in the 458 class while Juan Hinestrosa of Fort Lauderdale and Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale captured the 430 group followed by Christopher Ruud of Racine, Wisconsin and Boardwalk Ferrari and Ryan Ockey of Calgary, Alberta and Ferrari of Ontario.

On track action begins again at 8:30 this morning with the second Shell Historics race scheduled for 10:35 a.m. and the second Ferrari Challenge (both the F458 and F430 are on track at the same time) to begin at 2 p.m.
John Goodman won Saturday's historic race in a 512 BB/LM by a lap over Peter Giddings in his 250 GT/Lusso. Jack Thomas was third in a 250 GT Boano.

Matteo Sardi, who is director of communications for Ferrari North America, explained that, in addition to the six North American venues and individual championship battle, there is one "wild card" race in Europe to end the season.

Drivers are either sponsored by or members of dealer teams. Points from each of the individual drivers on the dealer teams are added up to also determine a team championship at the end of the season, Sardi said.

The Ferrari Challenge "offers an experience for customers to get together for a weekend and mingle," said Sardi of the series now in its 18th season. "It's a bit of a family (atmosphere). They can also preview some of the latest products."

Ferrari North America CEO Marco Mattiacci was on hand for the presentation of the new V-12 four-wheel drive Ferrari. The vehicle model is FF for four seats and four-wheel drive and is a sweet looking — and feeling — ride.

The F1 program is for customers to purchase former F1 cars and they have six opportunities to race them. The F99XX and XX programs allow customers to purchase prototype cars and get them on track during the Ferrari Challenge weekends.

"The 599 car is in production but it is building the underpinnings of the next super car," Sardi explained.
"This (competition) is kind of the heart and soul of Ferrari. Ferrari was founded as a racing company."
It's a festive gathering with sponsors coming down from areas like the Silicon Valley, taking parade laps and enjoying lunch together.

"The Ferrari Challenge is an evolution of the way the brand was founded," Sardi said. "It's a competition, but gentleman's racing. That's not to say the drivers aren't very focused. They're athletes and they're here to win. They're using the same drive that has made them captains of industry."

Dave Coffin can be reached at 375-4509 or dcoffin@sbcglobal.net.

Ferrari Challenge - Tucker Leaves Laguna Seca With Another Podium

Laguna Seca, May 24, 2011: Scott Tucker, the most successful driver in Ferrari Challenge Series history, added to his list of accomplishments with a podium finish at historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the second event weekend of the 2011 season. This follows up a victory in the season opener at Infineon Raceway on April 30.

The runner-up finish in Saturday’s race was the highlight of the weekend for Tucker and his Boardwalk Ferrari Level 5 Motorsports team on this challenging road course. The Ferrari Challenge Series is only two events into the season, which marks the debut of the new Ferrari 458 Challenge, the make that will replace the Ferrari F430 as the car of choice for the single-marque series. The new and relatively untested car continues to be a work in progress for Level 5.

“We really haven’t had a lot of time with the 458,” Tucker said. “We’ve had such a hectic schedule that we have not been able to test the car the way we would like. But, still, we have a win and a podium so we feel we’ll be able to continue to develop this new car.”

After battling his way into second place, Tucker ran out of laps and was unable to catch Enzo Potolicchio, who scored his second win of the season.

Sunday's race also brought intense action to the track as a strong field of competitors battled each other and the famous 2.234-mile, 11-turn road course. Tucker finished fifth.

"We drove the best car we had today," Tucker said Sunday. "Unfortunately, some of the guys had a little more testing time and they were a little bit stronger. But, we're going to see what we can do about that."
Adding to the team’s challenges is the fact that Tucker has been competing in the secondary car while the primary car is awaiting approval from series officials.

Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports are in the middle of preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most prestigious endurance race. The event is the third stop on the schedule for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup where Level 5 is competing in the LMP2 class in a Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored, Honda-powered Lola. The international competition is in addition to the American Le Mans Series, where the team also races on a full-time basis.

“We have a full plate, that is for sure,” Tucker said. “But, we have a very talented and dedicated team. We race to win every time out and we are not going to shy away from the hard work it takes to get there.”

The 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place June 11-12, 2011. Complete coverage will be provided by Radio Le Mans at Radiolemans.com.

Scott Tucker Laguna Seca Weekend Summary

Tucker Leaves Laguna Seca With Another Podium

Challenge race podium celebration

Photo by: Bob Heathcote

"We drove the best car we had today," Tucker said Sunday. "Unfortunately, some of the guys had a little more testing time and they were a little bit stronger. But, we're going to see what we can do about that."
Adding to the team’s challenges is the fact that Tucker has been competing in the secondary car while the primary car is awaiting approval from series officials.

... we have a very talented and dedicated team. Scott Tucker

Tucker and Level 5 Motorsports are in the middle of preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most prestigious endurance race. The event is the third stop on the schedule for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup where Level 5 is competing in the LMP2 class in a Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored, Honda-powered Lola. The international competition is in addition to the American Le Mans Series, where the team also races on a full-time basis.

“We have a full plate, that is for sure,” Tucker said. “But, we have a very talented and dedicated team. We race to win every time out and we are not going to shy away from the hard work it takes to get there.”

The 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place June 11-12, 2011. Complete coverage will be provided by Radio Le Mans at Radiolemans.com.

-source: level 5 motorsports

2011-05-24 01:17 GMT